In fact, the new Virginia Tech helmet is doubly special, in that it also pays tribute to the victims of a shooting on the university’s own campus in 2007. A large ribbon decal adorns the sides of each helmet — half VT-orange, half Sandy Hook-green — featuring each school’s logo at either end and “PREVAIL” and “58” in the middle, the latter being the combined number of victims in Blacksburg and Newtown.

For VT’s actual bowl game, this Friday against Rutgers, the Hokies will wear a smaller version of this ribbon on their standard headgear.